Air compressor



L. J. CLAPP AIR COMPRESSOR Dec. 31, 1935.

' Original Filed Jan. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ZewzJJUZa/pp- BY '4' Wm ATTORNEY.

Dec.- 31, 1935. L, CLAP 2,026,301

AIR COMPRESSOR Original Filed Jan. 15, 1952 ZSheets-Sheat 2 IN VEN TOR.

MI-Mhu' ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 31, 1935 UNITED STATES AIR COMPRESSOR Lewis J. Clapp, MichiganCity, Ind.,.assignor to Sullivan Machinery Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application January 15', 1932, Serial No.

Divided and this. application April 23, 1935, Serial No. 17,817

11 Claims.

My invention relates to air compressors and more particularly to portable air compressors, though it will be understood that as to certain of its aspects the invention is in no sense limited to the latter type of air compressors.

An object of my inventionis to provide an improved air compressor. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved .aircompressor having a large potential output and a high degree of efficiency. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved compressor having improved cooling arrangements both for the air handled by the compressor and for the compressor proper. A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved air compressor having improved cooling means. Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is shown, for purposes of illustration, incorporated in a portable compressor,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the illustrative embodiment of the invention with parts broken away to show details of construction.

Fig. 2 is an approximately central vertical section through the compressor unit.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the axes of a high and a low pressure cylinder.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the structure of the portable compressor, and

Fig. 5 is an axial section through a low pressure cylinder inlet valve mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, it will be observed that front and rear wheels H and [2 support a suitable frame l3 at whose forward end a radiator I4 is mounted in vertical transverse planes. A second radiator I5 is similarly mounted near the rear end of the frame I 3. Driving means for the compressor, later described, is herein in the form of an internal combustion engine gen erally designated [6 and arranged adjacent the radiator l4. As shown, the engine is of the type which, while started with gasoline, is normally operated with fuel oil. This engine is connectable through a suitable clutch mechanism H, which is operable by a lever l8, with a self-alining, semi-permanent type clutch mechanism l9 which is supported by one end of the crank shaft 26 of a compressor 2| (see Fig. 2).

The compressor 2| is of the four-cylinder, compound type, and comprises two low and two high pressure cylinders. This compressor'is of the. V-type, and its low pressure cylinders are arranged at one side of the V, and its high pressure cylinders at the other .side of the V. The low pressure cylinders 23 are shown in elevation in. Fig. l and. one is shown in section in Fig. 3.

The high pressure cylinders 24 may be seen in Fig. 2 .melevation, and Fig. 3 shows one of the high pressure cylinders in section. An intercooler 25 receives compressed air from the low pressure cylinders 23, and supplies it to the high pressure cylinders 24. The intercooler is of the vertical 5 type and is disposed primarily in the space between the sides of the dihedral angle which is formed by the planes respectively including the axes of the low and high pressure compressor cylinders. The intercooler is intermediate the radiator l5 and the compressor cylinders.

The low pressure cylinders have a common head 26 and discharge valve mechanism 21 permitting flow from these cylinders to a discharge manifold 28 but preventing reverse flow in a well known manner. The discharge manifold 28 communicates through a connection 29 with the intercooler. It will be noted that this connection lies between the cylinder banks and enters the intercooler near the bottom of the latter. A return connection 30' from the intercooler, starting from a point near the bottom of the latter, leads to the inlet manifold 3| of the high pressure cylinders 24. This connection is also in a large measure in the V between the cylinders. The 25 inlet Valves of the low pressure cylinders are designated. 32 and have suitable.inlet-valve-opening unloading valve mechanism 33 associated with them. Suitable pneumatically-operated, inlet-valve-mechanism-opening devices 34 are 30 associated with the inlet valves of the high pressure cylinders.

At the extreme end of the compressor, at the rear end of the frame 13, a receiver 35 is arranged. This is connected by suitable piping 36, 35 lying' relatively outside the V formed by the compressor cylinders, with the discharge space of the high pressure cylinders 24. A fuel oil tank 31 is mounted above the receiver 35 and is connected by suitable supply connections with the fuel 40 supply connection .of the engine It. An air pipe 39 leads from the receiver to a moisture separator 48 andthence toacompressor discharge-pressure-responsive pilot valve ti and to branch lines 42 and 43, of which the former leads to the inlet 45 valve unloading mechanisms 33 of the low pressure cylinders and the latter leads to the unloading mechanisms 34 of the high pressure cylinders.

A gasoline tank at is suitably supported adjacent the engine lt, in the space between the latter and the compressor, and a water supply tank 46: is arranged betweenthe gasoline tank and the compressor and supported by suitable legs 41 on the frame H3. The gasoline from the tank 45 is used in starting the engine, but when the engine is operating in a normal manner fuel oil from the tank 31 is the preferred operating medium; and to improve the operation of the engine appropriate quantities of water from the tank 46 are admitted to the cylinders during the operation with fuel oil. The water pump 48 of the engine 16 draws cooling liquid from the radiator l4 through a connection 49 and discharges it through a pipe 58 to the jackets of the engine cylinders, from which a return connection conducts the water to a return pipe 52 which enters the top of the radiator I4. 7,

Referring now to the cooling system of the compressor, it will be noted that a pump 54 suitably driven as at 55 from the compressor crank shaft takes cooling liquid from the bottom of the radiator l5, through a pipe connection 56, and discharges it through a connection st to the bottom of the intercooler. The water passes from the top of the intercooler through a pipe 58 to a branch connection 59, from which a connection 60 leads to the jackets of the low pressure cylinders and a connection 6| to the jackets of the high pressure cylinders. Connections 62 and 63 return the water from the tops of the jackets of the low and high pressure cylinders respectively to a return connection 66 opening into the top of the radiator I5.

A suitable strut 65, herein formed as an extension of the connection 52, opens into a blind connection 66 in a connector member 67 (see Fig. 4). The connector member 6'! has a depending eye 68 formed rigid therewith; and a stud H! and nuts H cooperating with a cap 72 carried by and alined with the pipe 64 rigidly connect the parts together. This mode of connection provides a strong arrangement. The upright radiator l5, the upright water passages 62 and G3, and the pipe as provide a well-braced structure; and radiator I l, through the piping 52 and strut 55, and the connecting devices shown in Fig. 4 and just described, is stoutly connected with the mechanism at the other end of the portable compressor. The low pressure cylinders are provided with an air cleaner 15.

The engine IE will be started with gasoline from the tank 45. After it has warmed up, fuel oil will be substituted as fuel. When fuel oil is being used, water from the tank 46 is admitted to the engine. When the engine is operating satisfactorily it is connected, by manipulation of the lever l8, through the clutch mechanism H in driving relation with the compressor 2|. The low pressure cylinders of the compressor take in air through the air cleaner 15, compress the air, and discharge it through the connection 29 into the intercooler. The high pressure cylinders draw air from the intercooler through the connection 39, in which the air is, obviously, passing in an opposite direction from that in which flow takes place in connection 29. The air is then compressed in the high pressure cylinders, and passes from them through the piping 36 to the receiver. When the receiver pressure reaches a predetermined desired value the automatic unloading valve 4| permits the flow of air from the receiver to effect opening of the inlet valves of the low and high pressure cylinders, and the compressor is unloaded. When the air pressure in the receiver has been reduced by the predetermined amount necessary to cause unloading, the pilot valve ll vents the air supplied to the with the engine, and a heat exchange device 25 is associated with the compressor, and these are spaced nearly the full length of the compressor, and each is adjacent the device to which it is individual. the length of different compressor frames during manufacture, or in the spacing of the units thereon, the necessary adjustment is provided for by the connecting devices shown in Fig. 4. The gasoline and water tanks are conveniently located and are protected adequately by the compressor and its driving engine.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

This is a division of my application, Serial No. 586,843, filed January 15, 1932.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a compressor, a crank case, cylinders arranged in V relation on said crank case and comprising low pressure cylinders and high pressure cylinders, an intercooler resting upon said crank case and disposed primarily in the space included between the sides, extended, of the di: hedral angle formed by planes including the cylinder axes and the axis of the compressor crank shaft, and air connections between the low pressure cylinders and the intercooler and the high pressure cylinders and the intercooler both arranged in the V-shaped space aforesaid, said intercooler lying in transverse planes beyond the cylinders and said connections lying in transverse planes intersecting the cylinders.

2. In a pumping mechanism, a compressor of the V type having an intercooler and cooling means associated with said compressor including a radiator extending in planes transverse to the compressor crank shaft, said intercooler disposed between said compressor and radiator, and means for circulating cooling fluid from said radiator to said intercooler, thence through the compressor and back to the radiator.

3. In a pumping mechanism, a compressor of the V type having an intercooler and cooling means associated with said compressor including a radiator extending in planes transverse to the compressor crank shaft, said intercooler disposed between said compressor and radiator and lying in the space between planes forming a dihedral angle Whose edge lies in the compressor crank shaft axis and in whose sides the compressor cylinder axes lie, and means for circulating cooling fluid from said radiator to said intercooler, thence through the compressor in parallel paths and back to the radiator.

4. In a pumping mechanism, a compressor of the V type having a crank case providing a flywheel space, an intercooler overlying in part said flywheel space and arranged in the space included between planes forming a dihedral angle whose edge lies in the compressor crank shaft and in whose sides the compressor cylinder axes lie, a radiator beyond said intercooler and in alinement with the compressor crank shaft, means for circulating cooling fluid from the radiator to the intercooler and thence through the compressor and back to the radiator, and air conducting passage forming means including conduits extending along the bottom of the V 75 In the event of minor differences in 5 between the compressor cylinders and outwardly to the heads of the latter and a conduit leading from the compressor through a parallel path lying outside the V of the compressor cylinders.

5. In a compressor, a crank case, cylinders arranged in V relation on said crank case and comprising at least one low pressure cylinder and at least one high pressure cylinder arranged at opposite sides, respectively, of a vertical plane in which the axis of the crank shaft lies, an intercooler resting upon the crank case and disposed primarily in the space included between the sides, extended, of the dihedral angle formed by planes including the cylinder axes and the axis of the compressor crank shaft, said intercooler having air connections at its lower end at the side thereof towards the compressor and respectively at opposite sides of the vertical plane in which the crank shaft axis lies, and conduits leading from the low pressure cylinder to one of said air connections and from the other of said air connections to the high pressure cylinder.

6. In a compressor, a crank shaft, high and low pressure cylinders extending in V arrangement from said crank case, an intercooler supported in planes above the horizontal plane of said crank shaft and in a position in which the same is substantially bisected by a vertical plane in which the axis of said crank shaft lies, said intercooler having air connections in its base, one at each side of such vertical plane, and air conduits leading from said connections to the low pressure and high pressure cylinders respectively.

7. In a compressor, a crank shaft, high and low pressure cylinders extending in V arrangement from said crank case, an intercooler supported in planes above the horizontal plane of said crank shaft and in a position in which the same is substantially bisected by a vertical plane in which the axis of said crank shaft lies, said intercooler having air connections in its base, one at each side of such vertical plane, and air conduits leading from said connections to the low pressure and high pressure cylinders respectively, both of said conduits lying within the sides of a dihedral angle formed by planes tangent to the outer sides of the cylinders and intersecting in a line parallel to the crank shaft axis.

8. In combination, a compressor having a crank-shaft, a crankcase and cylinders arranged in V-relation on said crankcase and comprising at least one low pressure cylinder and at least one high pressure cylinder, said low and high pressure cylinders arranged at opposite sides respectively of a vertical plane in which the axis of the crankshaft lies, an intercooler arranged in upright position in planes to which the crankshaft axis is substantially perpendicular but spaced from planes to which the crankshaft axis is perpendicular and which cut the compressor cylinders, said intercooler substantially bisected by the vertical plane which includes the crankshaft axis, said intercooler having air flow connections at the side thereof nearer said cylinders with the compressor cylinders, including conduit portions in which flow is respectively in opposite directions and which extend in a direction longitudinal of the crankshaft and lie at opposite sides of the vertical plane which includes the crankshaft axis.

9. In combination, a compressor having a crankshaft, a crankcase and cylinders arranged in V-relation on said crankcase and comprising at least one low pressure cylinder and at least one high pressure cylinder, said low and high pressure cylinders arranged at opposite sides respectively of a vertical plane in which the axis of 5 the crankshaft lies, an intercooler arranged in upright position in planes to which the crankshaft axis is substantially perpendicular but spaced from planes to which the crankshaft axis is perpendicular and which cut the compressor cylin- 10 ders, and a receiver at the opposite side of the intercooler from the cylinders, said intercooler having air flow connections at the side thereof nearer said cylinders with the compressor cylinders, including conduit portions in which flow is respeel5 tively in opposite directions and which extend in a direction longitudinal of the crankshaft, and a connection from the high pressure discharge of said compressor leading to the receiver and arranged at the same side of the vertical plane 20 including the crankshaft axis as the return connection from the intercooler.

10.-In combination, a compressor having a horizontal crankshaft, a crankcase and cylinders arranged in V-relation on said crankcase and 25 comprising at least one low pressure cylinder and at least one high pressure cylinder, said low and high pressure cylinders arranged at opposite sides respectively of a vertical plane in which the axis of the crankshaft lies, an intercooler arranged in 30 upright position in planes to which the crankshaft axis is substantially perpendicular but spaced from planes to which the crankshaft axis is perpendicular and which cut the compressor cylinders, said intercooler disposed in horizontal 35 planes above the horizontal plane which includes the crankshaft axis, said intercooler having air flow connections at the side thereof nearer said cylinders with the compressor cylinders, including conduit portions in which flow is respective- 40 ly in opposite directions and which extend in a direction longitudinal of the crankshaft and lie at opposite sides of the vertical plane which includes the crankshaft axis.

11. In combination, a compressor having a 45 horizontal crankshaft, a crankcase and cylinders arranged in V-relation on said crankcase and comprising at least one low pressure cylinder and at least one high pressure cylinder, said low and high pressure cylinders arranged at oppo- 50 site sides respectively of a vertical plane in which the axis of the crankshaft lies, an intercooler arranged in upright position in planes to which the crankshaft axis is substantially perpendicular but spaced from planes to which the 55 crankshaft axis is perpendicular and which cut the compressor cylinders, said intercooler disposed in horizontal planes above the horizontal plane which includes the crankshaft axis, and a receiver at the opposite side of the intercooler so from the cylinders, said intercooler having air flow connections at the side thereof nearer said cylinders with the compressor cylinders, including conduit portions in which flow is respectively in opposite directions and which extend in a direction longitudinal of the crankshaft and lie at opposite sides of the vertical plane which includes the crankshaft axis and there being a conduit from the high pressure discharge of the compressor leading to said receiver. 7

LEWIS J. CLAPP. 

